Heart Vessel Dilation with a Balloon and Stent
Heart vessel dilation using cardiac catheterization and heart balloon (Balloon Angioplasty) is a widely popular method because it does not require surgery and has a low risk. The doctor will insert a guiding catheter, which is a flexible tube with a tiny balloon at the end, through a blood vessel in the leg or arm. When it reaches the area where the vessel is narrowed, the balloon catheter is connected to an external device to inflate the balloon, pressing the atherosclerotic plaque against the vessel wall, flattening it, and expanding the vessel to allow blood to nourish the heart muscle better again. After that, the balloon is deflated back to its original size, and the catheter is withdrawn from the body.
In cases where the doctor believes that the narrowing is still not sufficiently expanded, a small coil (Stent) will be inserted to attach to the vessel wall. Sometimes, a stent coated with medication may be used instead of a regular stent, which not only helps to improve the efficiency of the vessel expansion but also reduces the risk and complications that may occur, including reducing the problem of re-narrowing. However, this depends on the physician’s and patient’s discretion.
Advantages of Heart Vessel Dilation with a Balloon and Stent
- Lower chance of complications compared to bypass surgery because it doesn’t require surgery and anesthesia
- Patients can leave the hospital sooner (1 – 2 days), returning to a good quality of life more quickly
- Can be repeated several times, in case the blood vessel narrows again in the future
Limitations of Heart Vessel Dilation with a Balloon and Stent
- Some narrowing types are not suitable for balloon dilation
- There’s a chance of re-narrowing at the same place due to the body’s natural healing process
